radiotherapy is significantly high compared to that in other cancer patients. This report reviews the use of hypomethylating agents (HMAs) to treat a 57-year-old woman newly diagnosed with MDS during palliative chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer. Over a period of 6 years, the patient received several DNA-damaging chemotherapeutics including doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel. Repeated thrombocytopenia was the main reason for suspecting secondary hematologic malignancy. She was diagnosed with t-MDS based on bone marrow examination and her treatment history for breast cancer. While azacitidine was originally administered to stabilize MDS, it also stabilized the patient's lung and lymph node metastases without any major toxicity. Therefore, the current case highlights the promising effects of HMAs for treating t-MDS following heavily pretreated breast cancer.]]>
Azacitidine ; Bone Marrow Examination ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Cyclophosphamide ; DNA Methylation ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paclitaxel ; Radiotherapy ; Thrombocytopenia

OBJECTIVES: Dental implants shorter than 8 mm, called short dental implants (SDIs), have been considered to have a lower success rate than standard length implants. But recent studies have shown that SDIs have a comparable success rate, and implant diameter was more important for implant survival than implant length. Also, SDIs have many advantages, such as no need for sinus lifting or vertical bone grafting, which may limit use in medically compromised patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 33 patients with 47 implants 7-mm long were examined over the last four years. All patients had special medical history and were categorized into 3 groups: systemic disorders, such as diabetes mellitus (controlled or uncontrolled), mental disability, and uncontrolled hypertension; oral cancer ablation with reconstruction, with or without radiotherapy; diverse osteomyelitis, such as osteoradionecrosis and bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw. Most of these patients have insufficient residual bone quality due to mandible atrophy or sinus pneumatization. RESULTS: The implant diameters were 4.0 (n=38), 4.5 (n=8), and 5.0 mm (n=1). Among the 47 implants placed, 2 implants failed before the last follow-up. The survival rate of 7-mm SDIs was 95.74% from stage I surgery to the last follow-up. Survival rates did not differ according to implant diameter. The mean marginal bone loss (MBL) at 3 months, 1 and 2 years was significantly higher than at implant installation, and the MBL at 1 year was also significantly higher than at 3 months. MBL at 1 and 2 years did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of the present study, the results indicate that SDIs provide a reliable treatment, especially for medically compromised patients, to avoid sinus lifting or vertical bone grafting. Further, long-term follow-up is needed.
Alveolar Bone Loss ; Atrophy ; Bisphosphonate-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw ; Bone Transplantation ; Dental Implants ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Lifting ; Mandible ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Osteomyelitis ; Osteoradionecrosis ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

This article reviewed new trends and controversial issues, including the intensification of chemotherapy and recent brachytherapy (BT) advances, and also reviewed recent consensuses from different societies on the management of locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). Intensive chemotherapy during and after radiation therapy (RT) was not recommended as a standard treatment due to severe toxicities reported by several studies. The use of positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for pelvic RT planning has increased the clinical utilization of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for the evaluation of pelvic lymph node metastasis and pelvic bone marrow. Recent RT techniques for LACC patients mainly aim to minimize toxicities by sparing the normal bladder and rectum tissues and shortening the overall treatment time by administering a simultaneous integrated boost for metastatic pelvic lymph node in pelvic IMRT followed by MRI-based image guided adaptive BT.
Bone Marrow ; Brachytherapy ; Consensus ; Drug Therapy ; Electrons ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pelvic Bones ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; Rectum ; Urinary Bladder ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Over 80% of the patients with prostate cancer (PCa) develop bone metastasis, which seriously affects the patients' quality of life and remains a major cause of morbidity. Radium-223 (Ra-223), a newly approved agent targeting bone metastasis of PCa, can improve the quality of life and prolong the overall survival of the PCa patients with bone metastasis. This article presents an overview of the clinical trials recently published on the management of bone metastasis of PCa with Ra-223.
Bone Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; secondary ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Quality of Life ; Radioisotopes ; Radium ; therapeutic use

Primary sarcomas of the central nervous system are rare. These tumors is rapid growth often produces mass effect on the brain. Diagnosis is rendered pathologically after resection. Surgical resection is the mainstay treatment and need the adjuvant therapy. We report a 44-year-old female with a meningeal sarcoma of frontal meninges. She complained headache for 2 months and palpable forehead mass for 3 weeks. Brain MRI demonstrated a soft tissue mass sized as 5.3×3.7×3.1 cm with well-defined osteolysis on the midline of the frontal bone. The mass attached to anterior falx without infiltration into the brain parenchyme. The tumor had extracranial and extraaxial extension with bone destruction. The tumor was totally removed with craniectomy and she had an adjuvant radiotherapy. However, an isolated subcutaneous metastasis developed at the both preauricular area of the scalp, originating from the scar which was remained the first surgery. After complete removal of this metastasis, she had an adjuvant radiotherapy in other hospital. However, she expired after six months after first surgery. We believe that the occurrence of tumor seeding at the site of incision in the scalp is related to using the fluid for irrigation after tumor resection and the same surgical instruments for the removal of the brain tumor.
Adult ; Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Central Nervous System ; Cicatrix ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Forehead ; Frontal Bone ; Headache ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; Meninges ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Osteolysis ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Sarcoma* ; Scalp* ; Surgical Instruments

PURPOSE: On maxillofacial tumor patients, oral implant placement prior to postoperative radiotherapy can shorten the period of prosthetic reconstruction. There is still lack of research on effects of post-implant radiotherapy such as healing process or loading time, which is important for prosthodontic treatment planning. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of post-implant local irradiation on the osseointegration of implants during different healing stages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Custom-made implants were placed bilaterally on maxillary posterior edentulous area 4 weeks after extraction of the maxillary first molars in Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats. Experimental group (exp.) received radiation after implant surgery and the other group (control) didn't. Each group was divided into three sub-groups according to the healing time (2, 4, and 8 week) from implant placement. The exp. group 1, 2 received 15-Gy radiation 1 day after implant placement (immediate irradiation). The exp. group 3 received 15-Gy radiation 4 weeks after implant placement (delayed irradiation). RESULTS: The bone mineral density (BMD) was significantly lower in the immediate irradiation groups. BMD was similar in the delayed irradiation group and the control group. The irradiated groups exhibited a lower bone-to-implant contact ratio, although the difference was not statistically significant. The irradiated groups also exhibited a significantly lower bone volume and higher empty lacuna count than the control groups. No implant failure due to local irradiation was found in this study. CONCLUSION: Within the limits of this study, the timing of local irradiation critically influences the bone healing mechanism, which is related to loading time of prostheses.
Bone Density ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Molar ; Osseointegration ; Pilot Projects* ; Prostheses and Implants ; Radiotherapy ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Grisel's syndrome, defined as the atlanto-axial joint subluxation not associated with a trauma or bone disease, is a rare complication following operative procedure and/or infections of the upper aerodigestive tract. Pathogenetically, it may occur in association with any condition that results in hyperemia and pathological relaxation of the transverse ligament of the atlanto-axial joint. When an inflammation heals, Grisel's syndrome can probably result in a fixation in the rotated position. It is diagnosed by physical and radiological findings. Early management, consisting of cervical immobilization and medical treatment, is considered a key factor for satisfactory outcome. Inappropriate treatment can result in a catastrophic consequence. Recently, we experienced a case of Grisel's syndrome following tonsillectomy in a patient with left palatine tonsillar cancer with preoperative radiotherapy. We report this case with a literature review.
Atlanto-Axial Joint* ; Bone Diseases ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Immobilization ; Inflammation ; Ligaments ; Radiotherapy* ; Relaxation ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Tonsillar Neoplasms* ; Tonsillectomy*

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the long-term results of definitive radiotherapy (RT) for early glottic cancer. Clinical and treatment factors related to local control and patterns of failure are analyzed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 222 patients with T1-2N0 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx treated with definitive RT from 1981 to 2010. None of the patients received elective nodal RT or combined chemotherapy. The median total RT dose was 66 Gy. The daily fraction size was < 2.5 Gy in 69% and 2.5 Gy in 31% of patients. The RT field extended from the hyoid bone to the cricoid cartilage. RESULTS: The median age was 60 years, and 155 patients (70%) had T1 disease. The 5-year rates of local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) and ultimate LRFS with voice preservation were 87.8% and 90.3%, respectively. T2 (hazard ratio [HR], 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 4.94) and anterior commissural involvement (HR, 3.37; 95% CI, 1.62 to 7.02) were significant prognostic factors for LRFS. In 34 patients with local recurrence, tumors recurred in the ipsilateral vocal cord in 28 patients. There were no contralateral vocal cord recurrences. Most acute complications included grade 1-2 dysphagia and/or hoarseness. There was no grade 3 or greater chronic toxicity. CONCLUSION: Definitive RT achieved a high cure rate, voice preservation, and tolerable toxicity in early glottic cancer. T2 stage and anterior commissural involvement were prognostic factors for local control. Further optimization of the RT method is needed to reduce the risk of ipsilateral tumor recurrence.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cricoid Cartilage ; Deglutition Disorders ; Drug Therapy ; Glottis ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; Larynx ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Radiotherapy* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Vocal Cords ; Voice

BACKGROUND: Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), which is derived from the precursor of plasmacytoid dendritic cells, is a rare and highly aggressive hematologic malignancy. It has only recently been recognized as a distinct entity. BPDCN characteristically has a predilection for cutaneous involvement. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and pathological features of BPDCN, and to review the treatment courses to analyze the prognosis and the optimal therapeutic approach. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed seven BPDCN cases registered in the Samsung Medical Center database between January 2010 and December 2014. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 52 years (range, 18~79 years), and six patients were male. The clinical staging was as follows: skin (n=5), lymph node (n=6), bone marrow (n=4), and peripheral blood (n=2). The skin manifestations were bruise-like tumefaction (n=4), erythematous nodule (n=4), or multiple erythematous papules (n=1). The pathological evaluation revealed dense diffuse or nodular infiltration of neoplastic cells, which were positive for CD4, CD56, and CD123 in the immunohistochemical analysis. Six patients received multiagent chemotherapy as the first-line treatment, alone (n=4), or followed by stem cell transplantation (SCT, n=1) or concurrent radiotherapy (n=1). The median progression-free survival after the first-line treatment was 6 months (range, 2~12 months). CONCLUSION: Three different skin manifestations were observed, with pathological features analogous to each other. All patients who received chemotherapy without SCT achieved partial or complete response but experienced relapse. Furthermore, they showed various clinical courses irrelevant to the cutaneous involvement.
Bone Marrow ; Dendritic Cells* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Skin Manifestations ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Treatment Outcome*

Occasionally, unexpected neurological deficits occur after lumbar spinal surgery. We report a case of monoparesis after lumbar decompressive surgery. A 63-year-old man, who had undergone decompression of L4-5 for spinal stenosis 4 days previously in the other hospital, visted the emergency department with progressive weakness in the left leg and hypoesthesia below sensory level T7 on the right side. He had been cured of lung cancer with chemotherapy and radiation therapy 10 years previously, but detailed information of radiotherapy was not available. Whole spine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed fatty marrow change from T1 to T8, most likely due to previous irradiation. The T2-weighted MR image showed a high-signal T4-5 spinal cord lesion surrounded by a low signal rim, and the T1-weighted MR image showed focal high signal intensity with focal enhancement. The radiological diagnosis was vascular disorders with suspicious bleeding. Surgical removal was refused by the patient. With rehabilitation, the patient could walk independently without assistance 2 months later. Considering radiation induced change at thoracic vertebrae, vascular disorders may be induced by irradiation. If the spinal cord was previously irradiated, radiation induced vascular disorders needs to be considered.
Bone Marrow ; Decompression ; Delayed Diagnosis* ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Leg ; Lung Neoplasms ; Middle Aged ; Paresis ; Radiotherapy ; Rehabilitation ; Spinal Cord* ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine ; Thoracic Vertebrae